The Kinks - Top Of The Pops (1970)

[CurtisMateer]

The power chord is a hard rock thing and hard rock used to be called metal before all that death metal stuff. Even Back In Black and Zepplin's Whole Lotta Love were thought of as metal back then so you are right that they invented metal(ie.hard rock).

Music is all a big chain of course and before You Really Got Me (a song which that 'metal' band Van Halen covered) was Eddie Cochrane's Let's Get Together and C'mon Everybody which were getting there but still not clipped enough.

[delboy01]

Top Darts, Hits the spot

[RATM4LYFE]

It always was a marvellous song, and still sounds great. Funny and sad and rocky.

[ivycompton]

they really got me...

[HengistTheGreat]

Oh yes! Thank you YouTube. Thank you Sleepwalker1977. Without you I would never have heard this beauty.

[theamazing39]

One of the most underrated bands of all time.

[gabriel94220]

the beginning of this song looks like Louie louie covered by the Clash, in my opinion

[HengistTheGreat]

@gabriel94220

I was linked here from The Sonics version of Loiue Louie, so you must have something there! :)

[unclemort1960]

@gabriel94220 the kinks were certainly a big infuence on the clash the riff on `1977` is very similar to `all day and all of the night`when mick jones met ray davies he proudly showed him a kinks fan club membership card.

[ivycompton]

Another killer from this consistently great album. Love Ray's hilarious lyrics: "I've been invited to have dinner with a prominent queen.' And god, Dave's guitar - sooooooo satisfying. Perfection.

[Sleepwalker1977]

@ivycompton Check out the sizzling live version on "Everybody's In Showbiz."

[merseymain]

Great stuff

[therickynelson1]

Saw them in 1982 US festival. There better than all the other bands. Great guitarest.

[bendobrin]

just a filler song for an album...other bands would have had a top ten hit with this if the ar guys did their work. Ray was just unbelievably creative at this time and sapace despite what was happening in his life. not many out there who will ever accomplish what he did..

GOD SAVE THE VILLAGE GREEN

[PRINCIPALBROKER]

Amen!

[Raven247]

I agree with the person that said it is a MASTERPIECE through and through, actually, ALL KINKS albums are, and the kicker is, it's true!!!!!! Just listen to the last song, MoneyGoRound!!!

[kujo839]

@Raven247 Its more than a masterpiece. It sucks! Thats music...perfect!!! Best band ever lived on earth ! F**ck Lola, other songs of them are much better !

[SamuelllSabotage]

did you know that the kinks created rock and roll? lol, they were the first 'rock' band with you really got me, and, all of the day and night.

[Sleepwalker1977]

I think you're thinking of them being the first metal band. Rock and roll had been around for a while by 1964.

Two words: Chuck Berry.

[thelmasss]

Yeah!

as John said - If Rock n Roll reborn it will be call Chuck Berry -

[kdonatus1]

@Sleepwalker1977 I know what Mr. Sabotage is talking about. Those on the other side of the pond seem to have a hard time with the concept

[HengistTheGreat]

@Sleepwalker1977

Great as they are, the Kinks did not create rock and roll, rock, roll, or metal.

Great song though.

[blackhamster1009]

@Sleepwalker1977

more like the first hard rock band. They were too early and not hard enough to be metal

[jenzeppelin]

that being said, check out the rest of the album because this track i just a little ditty on it, in full scope.

[jenzeppelin]

:) :) more than just a "really good" album, changer434 :) :) - a *great masterpiece* - let me stress that - MASTERPIECE - of an album. not only one of the Kinks' finest, but one of the finest albums of all time, i believe. the songs on it are pure genius and so beautiful.

[changer434]

A really good album that is really different from a lot of the other stuff from the same time

[helltopay1]

THE KINKS 'nuff said

[stubbyguy]

THE BEGINNINGS OF METAL?

[Sleepwalker1977]

Nah, not quite. They already did that with "You Really Got Me."

Still, this song, "Rats," and "Powerman" (all off the same fantastic album) showed that The Kinks could have gone head to head with Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath in those early days of British hard rock. But The Kinks went on to new sounds as the 70's went on.

Glad you enjoy it, though!

[thapie]

one of the best songs ever,we used to play this song in the first band i was ever in,it just puts a smile on your face every time ya hear it!

[joh3]

This collection of songs was a great shove into my ribs during those early 70's years. I always was a fan of Mr. Davie's material and lyrics and this just capped it all. Not only that, the musicians were very good. Hats off to all of you guys.

[Sleepwalker1977]

Agreed - a fine band with a brilliant lyricist.

[JasonBonitati]

I love this song! I just bought a couple Kinks CD's today and love it already!

[mynameisnotalfredo]

AC/DC took a riff from the Kinks. If that doesn't make them badass, what does? Honestly, this is one of their greatest songs and one of the greatest songs period!

[oscarwilde30]

lol parts of this does sound like an AC/DC song...much lighter though...did AC/DC really rip it off?

[mynameisnotalfredo]

just listen to the opening riff of "Highway to Hell" and compare it to the opening riff here. I think there's like one or two note changes.

[Sleepwalker1977]

In all fairness, the riff is "Louie, Louie" essentially played backwards.

[krankiekat]

The KinKs 1960's, 1970's, 1980. 1990's, and the solo careers, still the greatest band in all the land. God save the Kinks, Ray and Dave and all their fans who have supported them through the years! dan the fan, aka Frank Lima, The Montvale, New Jersey Hillbilly Boy!

[Sleepwalker1977]

Frank Lima, not to be confused with Frankie Simes, right?

[k3304]

@krankiekat , i rushed the stage on Ray to get his signature in Philadelphia and he signed his book X-Ray with an "R" in total rock star fashion. Not Ray or Ray Davies just a fucking R. Thats how much of a fucking rock star he is. He even married another rock star named Chrissy.

[minorkatminor]

This song Rocks!!

[TeaLeaf1020]

No one writes lyrics as good as Ray! As Pete Townshend said, "Ray's a gobsmacking genius!" Love this song!

[BostonRocker51]

"tell me about your influences (Land of a 1000 Dances by Wilson Pickett in the background) Thanks for posting. I love this tune. Now I've been invited to dinner by a prominent Queen... LOL!!!

[ivycompton]

Love it! Hilarious lyrics on the frustrations of showbiz: "I've been invited to have dinner with a prominent queen." Yes!

[Sleepwalker1977]

I had figured you meant UNDERrated. It's a brilliant song. Check out the live version on "Everybody's In Showbiz". It's so hot it has smoke on it.

[paddyo702]

That live version is unreal!! How about the live version of Here comes yet another day that was on the Kinks Greatest Celluloid heroes album. The latest releases only have the studio version plugged into its spot!!

[Sleepwalker1977]

I would love to hear that version - I've come across one on a bootlegged performance and it kicked ass, but to hear a high quality rendition would be great!

[firstnoelnhl]

One of the Kinks best and most overrated songs! Thanks for posting.

[firstnoelnhl]

Underrated songs, that is! :)

[allthatjazz1128]

Just listen to the lyrics!

[Sleepwalker1977]

Sorry the sound is so effed up on this track - something's up with my software.